College football cheat sheet - Betting tips on the biggest games and more

The college football season began in earnest this weekend and what an opening night to greet gamblers. Thursday's two main games (Penn State over Purdue and No. 17 Pitt over West Virginia) came down to the final seconds and each involved point-spread decisions of a half-point. That is the kind of excitement that has caused our nation to accept that «football is king.» And it's important to recognize that philosophy no longer applies solely to the NFL.

We soon will have both to occupy our weekends, challenge our handicapping and provide ample complaints for the following workweek. Until then, the Labor Day weekend belongs to the student-athletes.

Note: Lines courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

It's rare to have two marquee, ranked matchups offer point spreads of at least 17 points. Bettors typically avoid such large lines, but sometimes blue blood programs in prime time are just too enticing. Bookmakers I spoke with expect No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State (-17, 59) to deliver the game with Saturday's largest handle (total money wagered). Additionally, even though the side and total have been posted all summer, more than 90% of that action will likely come through in the hours right before kickoff.

I have discussed this game with numerous oddsmakers and professional bettors. The consensus is that they are avoiding it. When the line was 15.5 earlier this summer, a sharp linemaker emphatically told me «the number is right.» But it has now hit 17, and the Irish have also since suffered some key injuries. While there is incredible hype on the Buckeyes, led by Heisman betting favorite and quarterback C.J. Stroud (+200), one astute handicapper reminded me how much Ohio State got manhandled in the trenches last year by Michigan